This chapter explores how We Medicine in the form of vaccination appears to be old news. It briefly recounts the history of resistance to mass vaccination, which includes themes of government ...
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This chapter explores how We Medicine in the form of vaccination appears to be old news. It briefly recounts the history of resistance to mass vaccination, which includes themes of government intrusion pitted against individual and parental autonomy. It presents three distinct vaccine stories concerning “swine flu,” childhood vaccines, and the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine against cervical cancer. These stories show how the strongest anti-vaccination movements arise in the developing countries; and that throughout the world, solidarity has been exhibited in the struggle against vaccination—an instrument regarded by many public health experts as the epitome of We Medicine.Less

Donna Dickenson

Published in print: 2016-01-12

This chapter explores how We Medicine in the form of vaccination appears to be old news. It briefly recounts the history of resistance to mass vaccination, which includes themes of government intrusion pitted against individual and parental autonomy. It presents three distinct vaccine stories concerning “swine flu,” childhood vaccines, and the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine against cervical cancer. These stories show how the strongest anti-vaccination movements arise in the developing countries; and that throughout the world, solidarity has been exhibited in the struggle against vaccination—an instrument regarded by many public health experts as the epitome of We Medicine.

This chapter presents vaccines for adolescents and teens. Meningococcus is a bacterium that causes two serious infections: meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; and ...
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This chapter presents vaccines for adolescents and teens. Meningococcus is a bacterium that causes two serious infections: meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; and sepsis, a bloodstream infection. Before the meningococcal vaccine first became available in the U.S. in 2005, the group most likely to catch meningococcus was children less than two years of age, followed by adolescents. Although the disease is more common in young children, deaths are more common in teenagers. Another important vaccine is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer—one of the most common cancers in women. HPV is a common infection of both men and women, spread by sexual contact. Half of all new HPV infections occur in girls and young women between 15 and 24 years of age, and 40 of 100 are infected within the first two years of sexual activity.Less

Vaccines for Adolescents and Teens

Paul A. OffitCharlotte A. Moser

Published in print: 2011-03-07

This chapter presents vaccines for adolescents and teens. Meningococcus is a bacterium that causes two serious infections: meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; and sepsis, a bloodstream infection. Before the meningococcal vaccine first became available in the U.S. in 2005, the group most likely to catch meningococcus was children less than two years of age, followed by adolescents. Although the disease is more common in young children, deaths are more common in teenagers. Another important vaccine is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which prevents cervical cancer—one of the most common cancers in women. HPV is a common infection of both men and women, spread by sexual contact. Half of all new HPV infections occur in girls and young women between 15 and 24 years of age, and 40 of 100 are infected within the first two years of sexual activity.

This book answers questions about the science and safety of modern vaccines. In straightforward prose, it explains how vaccines work, how they are made, and how they are tested. Most important, it ...
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This book answers questions about the science and safety of modern vaccines. In straightforward prose, it explains how vaccines work, how they are made, and how they are tested. Most important, it separates the real risks of vaccines from feared but unfounded risks. The book addresses parental fears that children may receive too many vaccines too early, that the HPV vaccine may cause chronic fatigue or other dangerous side effects, that additives and preservatives in vaccines cause autism, and that vaccines might do more harm than good. This book offers honesty—instead of hype—in the quest to protect children's health.Less

Vaccines and Your Child : Separating Fact from Fiction

Paul OffitCharlotte Moser

Published in print: 2011-03-07

This book answers questions about the science and safety of modern vaccines. In straightforward prose, it explains how vaccines work, how they are made, and how they are tested. Most important, it separates the real risks of vaccines from feared but unfounded risks. The book addresses parental fears that children may receive too many vaccines too early, that the HPV vaccine may cause chronic fatigue or other dangerous side effects, that additives and preservatives in vaccines cause autism, and that vaccines might do more harm than good. This book offers honesty—instead of hype—in the quest to protect children's health.

Lawmakers considering controversial legislation mandating HPV vaccination for pre-teen girls will likely incorporate public sentiment into their decisions. Doing so may increase public perceptions of ...
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Lawmakers considering controversial legislation mandating HPV vaccination for pre-teen girls will likely incorporate public sentiment into their decisions. Doing so may increase public perceptions of government legitimacy and procedural fairness, maximizing the effectiveness of the legal system. Yet, trusting public sentiment based on morality, emotion, and cognitive bias can lead to negative legal and social outcomes. This study analyzed 106 Internet blogs authored by community members to provide a better understanding of the rationale underlying public sentiment. Though enthusiastic supporters of the HPV vaccination were well represented, most bloggers in the current sample opposed this measure. Supporters of mandatory HPV vaccination were more likely than opponents to advance practical and logic-based commentary, whereas opponents were more likely than supporters to base their commentary on cognitive biases and justice principles. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which policymakers should adhere to public sentiment opposing or supporting mandatory HPV vaccination.Less

A Preliminary Analysis of Public Commentary Supporting and Opposing Mandatory HPV Vaccination : Implications for Policy

Lorie L. SicafuseMonica K. Miller

Published in print: 2014-01-15

Lawmakers considering controversial legislation mandating HPV vaccination for pre-teen girls will likely incorporate public sentiment into their decisions. Doing so may increase public perceptions of government legitimacy and procedural fairness, maximizing the effectiveness of the legal system. Yet, trusting public sentiment based on morality, emotion, and cognitive bias can lead to negative legal and social outcomes. This study analyzed 106 Internet blogs authored by community members to provide a better understanding of the rationale underlying public sentiment. Though enthusiastic supporters of the HPV vaccination were well represented, most bloggers in the current sample opposed this measure. Supporters of mandatory HPV vaccination were more likely than opponents to advance practical and logic-based commentary, whereas opponents were more likely than supporters to base their commentary on cognitive biases and justice principles. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which policymakers should adhere to public sentiment opposing or supporting mandatory HPV vaccination.